Rifle Line in Color Guard

Even though it took place such a long while ago, there is something about the things you learn in adolescence that follows you through life, if you remain vigilant towards it. It is with a steady, skilled, and stoic hand that I still, from time to time, will find myself spinning my rifle from high school color guard. When spun well this whirl of white and black can seem like an impressive set; though with strong fundamentals and a talented hand, you can find yourself doing exactly the same one day.

Color guards are the women and men who march with the flags, rifles, and sabers alongside the marching band; winter guard is color guard, indoors, without the band and in the winter. While I marched with the drum line in the fall, come winter I was able to pick up this fun and interesting activity and enjoy the camaraderie and fitness it employed. When it comes to spinning your rifle there are an important set of behaviors to remember to maintain in order to spin most successfully.

1) First off you'll want to remember your starting posture. Before you've even done anything you'll want to make sure that your feet are in a comfortable, stationary position and you'll want to be sure that your body is straight up, top to bottom. Having good starting posture is essential in any sport; it's especially important in an activity like color guard as once you're set to moving with your equipment and your body, you'll need to be sure that you maintain full control over your rifle, flag, or any other piece you may be manipulating.

2) Getting into rhythm: Once you get your posture set you'll want to make sure you start your spinning in an efficient and fluid manner. If you start off your spinning in an inefficient manner, the chances are great that you'll end up dropping your equipment after a couple of spins. This is especially true of the rifle as it is a free floating piece which flies through the air; starting off well is pivotal to getting a good sense of spinning